Porter Historical Society 1812 Bicentennial speaker series, walks

by jmaloni

Mon, Jun 13th 2011 07:00 am

While the communities of
Lewiston, and Niagara-on-the-Lake and Queenston, Ontario, come to mind when the
War of 1812 is mentioned, it was from the Village of Youngstown, located in the
Town of Porter, that the first families fled the night of Dec. 18, 1813, when
the British and their Native American allies attacked and captured Fort Niagara.

In anticipation of the
coming bicentennial of the war and the founding of the town, the Town of Porter
Historical Society announces a War of 1812 speakers series, which will begin on
Monday, June 20, when Dr. Thomas Chambers, associate professor and chair of the
history department, Niagara University, will speak on the "War of 1812: Causes
and Consequences." The program will be held at the Youngstown Presbyterian
Church, 100 Church St. Following a dinner at 6 p.m., (reservations required,
call 745-1271), the presentation will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the
public.

In addition to the speakers
series, an 1812 village walk will be offered by the Town of Porter Historical
Society beginning Aug. 10. Those
attending will be able to listen to the stories of the burning of Newark
(Niagara-on-the Lake) and the hamlet of Youngstown in the winter of 1813 as
told by Catherine Young of Newark and Rebecca Swain and Agnes Greensitt of
Youngstown.

Young, whose husband, John,
was a merchant with property on both sides of the river, was forced from her
home when troops burnt Newark on Dec. 10, 1813. In retaliation, British troops
and their Native American allies crossed the Niagara River the night of Dec.
18, 1813, captured Fort Niagara and burnt Youngstown.

Swain, who was 15 years old
at the time, resided in a log cabin about a mile from the fort. Hearing gunfire
from the direction of the fort and knowing something was wrong, she and her
family escaped to the east while their home was destroyed. Greensitt, a widow,
whose husband, Robert Greensitt, had purchased a lot from John Young in March
1812, and constructed a tavern in the hamlet, escaped with her children when
the tavern was burned by the British.

The walk begins at 6 p.m. at
the Salt Battery, the former site of Greensitt's tavern and now the location of
Constitution Park on Main Street in Youngstown.

For further information
about the tours or to arrange a group tour, contact Karen Noonan at 745-1283 or[email protected]. All
tours will begin promptly at 6 p.m.; there is no charge and tour groups are
limited to 20 individuals.

To register for a tour, call the Town of Porter Historical Society
office, 745-1271.